A feral cat that terrorised New Zealand’s rare ducks for three years has been caught and killed. The large grey tabby, nicknamed “Nine Lives” for repeatedly evading trappers, is estimated to have killed dozens of pāteke, or brown teal, New Zealand’s rarest mainland duck, as well as kiwi chicks, native geckos and other wildlife.
Elusive predator on the Purerua peninsula
The cat roamed the Purerua peninsula, near the top of the North Island, since 2023. Pest Free Purerua, a conservation project, had just introduced 20 pāteke to the area, believing feral cats were under control. Within a week, the first duck was killed, and cameras identified a cat with specific markings. Another 15 pāteke were killed, and the same cat appeared again.
More traps, gear and night cameras were deployed, but the cat remained elusive. In 2024, another 15 of 20 released pāteke were killed by the same cat. Andy Mentor, project manager for Pest Free Purerua, described the cat’s behaviour as “very erratic,” appearing at unpredictable times and places, making it extremely difficult to track.
Final capture and aftermath
At the end of July, the cat was spotted at a quarry three nights in a row, an unusual pattern. The team laid out salmon, fried chicken and rabbit to lure it, and set cages and traps. On 30 July, a camera notification showed a cat in a cage. Trappers arrived and the cat was humanely shot.
The cat’s stomach contents will be examined, and its body will be taxidermied for educational purposes, highlighting the impact of feral cats on native species. New Zealand has over 2.5 million feral cats, which have pushed some bird species toward extinction. In November, the government added feral cats to its Predator-Free 2050 strategy.
Mentor acknowledged the cat’s elusiveness, saying, “Nine Lives needs to be given a certain amount of dignity and respect.” The team may consider reintroducing pāteke in the future.
